Interchangeable display



Jan.19,1943. s. H. scm 2,308,631v

IN TERCIHANGEIABLE DI S PLAY Filed Aug. 31, 1940 BY I m10 ATTQRNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1943 Unirse, Sintes stica Il` Claims.

This invention relates generally to display units. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display unit having a readily removable and reversible panel or layer 'with characteristically or distinctively diierent surfaces or faces, whereby either face may be placed into view at will. Y

It is another object of the present invention to provide a display unit having a plurality of removable and reversible layers, each layer carrying distinctively different faces, whereby, there may be presented to view on the display unit layers having different colors, textures or the like, or the same color, texture or the like, as desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a display unit in which the exposed layers may be readily removedand reversed or replaced by other layers having other different colors or other characteristically different faces, and whereby aesthetic combinations of surfaces may be presented to the eye of the observer.

Yet another object of the present invention is in the provision of means in the display unit whereby the said top layers may be eicaciously removed, positioned and maintained on the unit.

The invention in one of its aspects comprises a display unit in the form of a body having a top member anda wall member angularly disposed relatively to the top member, an edge of the top member being adjacent an edge of the wall member. Disposed at the adjacent edges of the top and wall members is aretainer having a portion spaced from and extending over the top member and another portion spaced from and extending over the Wall member. Over the top member is disposed a preferably removable and reversible layer and over the wall member is disposed a removable and reversible flexible layer, both layers respectively having their adjacent edge portions interposed b-etween their respective members and said retainer. Both the layers or either of themhave distinctively different faces-or surfaces, distinctive as to color, texture, coating, etc.

The above and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying ldrawing, illustrating a certain embodiment of which the invention may be realized and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a display unit made in i Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a portion of a reversible layer embodied in the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing there is disclosed a display unit having a body I0, which may be made of any suitable material. The example in the drawing shows the body I0 as being hollow and comprisinga frame structure generally indicated by the numeral I I and a front Wall member I2. The frame structure II is formed by a bottom member I3having an arcuate edge I3a, uprights Illa, hib, |50 secured to bottom member I3 and a top member I5 secured to these uprights. The top member I5 also has an arcuate edge I5a. The front wall member I2 is arcuately-shapedV conforming generally to the arcuate-edge contours of the top and bottom members I5, I3 and is secured to the uprights .I4a, Illb, Mc by any suitable means. The frame structure I I is preferably made of wood, although any other suitable material may be employed, particularly the top and bottom members I5, I3 which may be made of light metal, breboard, pasteboard or composition material. The arcu- .ate front wall member I2 is preferably made of exible pasteboard for economy, but, again, any other suitable material may be employed, such as, the materials heretofore mentioned, with respect to the top and bottom members I5, I 3.

It is preferable that either the front wall member I2 or the top member I5 extend beyond the other at the top of the display unit to provide a ledge or extension at which may be disposed a retainer I6. As shown in the drawing this retainer I5 may be in the form of an arcuately shaped corner element secured to the extension I'I of front wall member I2 adjacent the arcuate .edge I5a of top member I5. Corner Aelement' I5 has a ange portion I8 spaced from and extending over and above top member I5 and another ange portion I 9 spaced from and extending over front wall member I2. The retainer I6 is xed in position by any suitable means, such as, for example, the nails 20 which project through extension I1 and into the uprights Illa, Mb, I4c.

Positioned on the top member I5 and substantially co-extensive therewith is a preferably removable and reversible plate or layer 2I having its front arcuate edge portion accommodated or set in the space between the top member I5 and flange portion I8 of retainer I6; and positioned on the front Wall member I2 and substantially coextensive therewith is a removable and reversible flexible layer 22 conforming in shape to front Wall member I2 and having its upper edge portion accommodated or set in the space between front wall member l2 and flange portion I9 of retainer I6.

The layers or plates 2 I, 22 may be made of any suitable material, but it is preferable for economy to make the same of pasteboard. Fig. 5 illustrates in section a portion of either one of the plates 2l, 22. The body portion 23 is made preferably from cardboard. Its surfaces or faces 24, 25 are distinctively or characteristically different from each other, either in color, design, texture or material. For example, different colors and/or designs may be printed on the faces 24, 25 of the body portion 23; or the faces 24, 25 may be layers of fabric, paper or other cellulosic or resinous material carrying appropriately diierent colors; designs or configurations; and having any desired texture or quality.

By providing the removable panels or plates 2 l, 22 with surfaces or faces distinctively or characteristically different from each other as aforesaid, various attractive, elfective and aesthetic combinations may be produced..

By providing the retainer I8, either or both of the layers 2| and 22 may be readily reversed or replaced by other panels having other colors and other characteristics.

It is preferable that the front plate or layer 22 be provided with hinged flange portions 3U, 3l which may be secured to the uprights la and Mb, respectively, by any suitable means, such as, the tacks 32. The corner member i6 not only functions as a retainer for the layers 2i, 22, but also as an embellishment for the display unit.

Although the drawing discloses a semi-cylindrically shaped display unit, it is understood that the display unit contemplated by this invention may assume any shape or size and may be utilized as a display platform or display blocks or both, whereby articles may be supported thereby or a plurality of units arranged adjacent or over each other as an embellishment for display purposes.

Furthermore, although there has been disclosed in the drawing and described in the speciilcation one of the modes in which it is contemplated embodying the invention, it is desired that the invention in no way be limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of the invention, changes in the forms and proportions may be made as circumstances require or experience suggests without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A display unit comprising a hollow body having a top member and a front wall member adjacent said top member, one of said members having a portion extending beyond the other of said members, an element disposed over said extended portion of said one of said members and having flanges respectively spaced from and extending over said members, a removable layer over said top member and substantially co-extensive therewith, a portion of said layer interposed between said top member and the flange of said element extending thereover, another removable layer over said wall member and substantially co-extensive therewith, a portion of said another layer interposed between said wall member and the flange of said element extending thereover, said another layer having hinged lateral flaps secured to said body, each of said layershaving distinctively different surfaces.

2. A display unit comprising a hollow body having a top member and a wall member angularly disposed relatively to said top member, an edge of said top member being adjacent an edge of said wall member, one of said members having a portion extending beyond the other of said members at said adjacent edges, an element disposed over said extended portion of said one of said members and having flanges respectively spaced from and extending over said members, a removable layer over said top member and substantially co-extensive therewith, a portion of said layer interposed between said top member and the flange of said element extending thereover, another removable layer over said wall member and substantially co-extensive therewith, a portion of said another layer interposed between said wall member and the flange of said element extending thereover, said another layer having hinged lateral flaps secured to said body, each of said layers having distinctively dif ferent surfaces.

3. A display unit comprising a hollow body having a top member provided with an arcuate edge and a front arcuately-shaped wall member angularly disposed relatively to said top member, said arcuate edge of said top member being adjacent an edge of said wall member, one of said members having a portion extending beyond the other of said members at said adjacent edges. an element disposed over said extended portion of said one of said members and having flanges respectively spaced from and extending over said members, a removable and reversible layer over said top member and substantially coextensive therewith, a portion of said layer interposed between said top member and the flange of said element extending thereover, a removable and reversible flexible layer over said wall member and substantially coextensive therewith, a portion of said flexible layer interposed between said wall member and the flange of said element extending thereover, each of said layers having distinctively diiferent surfaces.

4. A display unit comprising a body having a top member and a wall member angularly disposed relatively to said top member, an edge of said top member being adjacent an edge of said wall member, an element disposed over said adjacent edges and having flanges respectively spaced from and extending over said members, a removable and reversible layer over said top member and substantially coextensive therewith, a portion of said layer interposed between said top member and the flange of said element extending thereover, a removable and reversible flexible layer over said wall member and substantially coextensive therewith, a portion of said flexible layer interposed between said wall member and the flange of said element extending thereover, each of said layers having distinctively different surfaces.

SIDNEY H. SONN. 

